How to adjust to a new 'lights out' time

Sometimes finding the right bedtime can take some trial and error. 

If you are starting the process, I recommend jumping right into the new perfect bedtime range rather than baby stepping towards the right time. You need to get ahead of the second wind cortisol rush so moving from a late bedtime like 9:00pm to 8:30pm isn't going to help much - go ahead and get into the right bedtime range before 8:000pm.

If you are making tweaks to lights out time within the perfect bedtime range, this is the way a recommend testing. 

Let's say you are trying to figure out if your child does better going to bed at 7:00pm or 7:30pm.
Current bedtime is 7:30pm but maybe he seems a little fussy, fighting bedtime or taking a while to fall asleep.
Move bedtime back by :15-min for 3-5 nights and keep track of what happens.
Does he fight less?
Fall asleep more quickly?
Sleep more soundly through the night?
Sleep later in the morning?

Then you can move it back to 7:00 for 3-5 nights and do the same thing.

Testing a new bedtime in this way allows you to find the sweet spot. And you'd be amazed at the difference :15 minutes can make to a bedtime!